System of electric locomotion



(No Model.)

` E. WHEELER. SYSTEM 0E ELEGTEIG LocoMoTIoN.

No. 431,093. Patented July l, 1890.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK VHEELER, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC LOCOMOTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,093, dated July 1,1890.

Application filed March 27, 1889. Serial No. 304966. (No model.)

Va part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trolley tracks and conduct-orsand trolleys for use in systems of electric locomotion; and my object isto provide a perfectly-insulated conductor and track which will not onlysupport and carry the trolley securely against displacement, but shallbe absolutely guarded against loss of current by the crossing andcontact of other wires with the consequent danger to animal life, andwhich will also be perfectly free from the annoyances due toaccumulations of snow orice.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved trolley forsuch conductor.

My invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, ashereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification,Figure l is a crosssectional view of one form of my conductor and track,and showing the trolley also in section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection on the line cc of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of amodication hereinafter referred to. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view,partly broken, of the conductor shown in Fig. l, taken at a point acrossone of the openings hereinafter referred to.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

A indicates a tubular conductor, which, in the form shown incross-section, is substantially inverted- U shaped, but which may besomewhat varied in form without departing from the spirit of myinvention. This conductor consists of the arch-shaped portion a, themain wire a for supporting the arch d and for bringing the current fromthe source of supply, and the inwardly-projecting portions a2, formingthe edges of the arch a, and

which I refer to hereinafter as tracks for the purpose of clearness.

The arch a may be of metal, covered on the outside with suitableinsulating material, or it may be composed wholly of insulatingmaterial, such as Wood iber. If the latter, there will be placed atsuitable intervals short conductors for conveying the current from themain wire a to the tracks a2, `as shown at a3 in Fig. 2, and the tracksa2 will be lined with copper or other suitable conducting material, asshown at a4 in Fig. 3.

The main wire d or backbone is supported at intervals, by means of eyesc5 or other suitable swinging connection, to black* ets from posts oroverhead cross-wires; but itis to be understod that in some instancesthe tubular conductor may be rigidly supported, so as not to swing.

Suitable openings may be made'at intervals in the conductor for theremoval orinsertion of a trolley, which otherwise could only be insertedor removed from the end of the tube.

In Fig. 4 I show how such openings maybe closed by means of' the sectionA', hinged to the other half of the conductor by the hinge e, thuspermitting said section A to be turned outward for the purpose ofremoving the trolley through the opening. /Vhen said section is droppedback to its place, it is supported in its proper position by means ofthe stop or brace E, which is secured by bolts e to the stationary halfof the conductor and extends under the main Wire a', and I contemplatemaking the tubular conductor in sections for convenience in erecting orother purposes.

The trolley, as shown in the drawings, consists of a T- shaped frame B,the upper or horizontal portion of which carries at each end an axle bfor the wheels C C; but of course, if desired, the two wheels C C couldbe rigidly secured to the ends of an axle passing through and having abearing in the said horizontal portion of frame B. The wheels C areformed, as shown, with rounded peripheries; or, in other Words, theperipheries in cross-section are convex and on the arc of a circleslightly smaller than that of the tracks a2. The trolley may, as isobvious, be provided with an additional wheel or wheels to IOO run on orin one or both of the tracks a? in advance of or behind the two Wheelsshown. The cord and wire D are for connecting the trolley to a car andfor conveying the currentYV Y thereto.

My invention, as shown, is for use in systems where the street-rails areused for the return-current; but it is obvious that by the properinterposition of insulating material one of the tracks a2 might be usedfor said return-current.

The backbone-wire may in some cases be omitted, the tubular conductorbeing supported at suitable intervals by brackets, and the current beingsupplied along the metallic half-round or concave tracks a2. In Fig. 3 Ishow such an arrangement, and in said figure I also illustrate a dividedconductor, the line of division being l,at the top. In this I make theconductor of a series of sections of any desired length, each sectionhaving a flange a at the top, through which a series'of short bolts a7pass to unite the two halves. The sections are united longitudinally byany suitable means, as by having the ends of two sections on one sidemeet midway of asection on the other side, and uniting the flanges a bythe bolts a7. In this modification the backbone-wire may be employed ornot. It is obvious that the inwardly-projecting flanges or tracks a2 maybe shaped otherwise than concavefor instance, they may be V- shaped andthe trolley-wheels shaped to correspond. Onc form of my inventioncontemplates the use of a divided conductor supported by a backbone wireand with angular trolleytracks.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, isf l. In asystem of electric locomotion, a tubularconductor having a longitudinal opening, and having inwardly-proj ecting edges on each v side of the opening to form trolley-tracks, saidtubular conductor being composed mainly of insulating material andhaving the surface of the tracks of metal,in combination with a trolleyhaving wheels fitted to said tracks, substantially as described.

2. A tubular conductor for systems of electric locomotion, having alongitudinal opening, the edges of said conductor on each side of theopening being curved inwardly and upwardly to form concave tracks for atrolley, said tracks being composed of metal and the sides and top ofthe conductor being of insulating material, and metallic connectionsleading from a main conductor to the said tracks, substantially asdescribed.

3. A tubular conductor for systems of electric locomotion, saidconductor being divided longitudinally, whereby the two parts thereofmay be readily separated or united, substa'ntially as described.

4. The tubular conductor A, consisting of the two partial tubes havingtracks a2 and the flanges a, united by suitable clamps, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

FRANK I/VI-IEELER.

Vitnesses:

.I. S. NORTON, Jr., D. N. WILLIAMS.

